Athletic shoe



oct. 12, 1937. L SHAW@ 2,095,766

ATHLETIC SHOE Filed Dec. '7, 1955 Patented Oct. 12, 1937 Isadore Shapiro, "Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Athletic Shoe Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 7, 1935, Serial No. 513,281

6 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to athletic shoes and has to do more particularly with a shoe having improved ground-gripping means.

More particularly, my invention relates to an improved shoe which is especially useful in outdoor athletic activities involving running and jumping, where a rm grip on the ground is required. In sports requiring broad or high jumping, hurdling, pole vaulting, or the like, and in fact, in any of the sports which are commonly referred to as track and field activities, and including such sports as shot putting, javelin and discus throwing, etc., it is of the utmost importance that the athlete obtain a rm purchase on the ground. My improved shoe has been found in practice to be substantially superior in this respect to shoes previously used in such sports.

My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the appended drawing forming a ferred embodiment, wherein- Figure l is a side elevational View of a shoe embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the sole thereof, and

Figure y3 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

A shoe embodying my invention comprises an upper or vamp portion IIl which may be of the usual or any suitable design, and having a sole I2, a sole tap I3 and heel tap I3', said taps being secured as by stitching I4.' The sole may be provided with a plurality of metal spikes I5 of ordinary or any suitable design and attached in any suitable manner. These spikes may, if desired, be detachable, but in the embodiment shown they are of the non-detachable type provided with heads I5' disposed between the sole I2 and sole tap I3. These spikes may be arranged as desired, but are preferably in transverse parallel rows.

In the known type of shoe customarily used for tracks and field sports the sole is provided exclusively with spikes similar to the spikes I5. I have found that shoes of this type permit a substantial slippage of the feet when the athlete braces himself for an effort such as a jump, shot-put, or the like.

In accordance with my improved design, in lieu of spikes under the ball of the foot, I provide adjacent this point an elongated cleat or tread 50 20, this tread member 20 being tapered toward the free edge 2| thereof so as more easily to enter the ground. Obviously, the edge or face 2l may be approximately a knife edge or it may be of appreciable Width, as shown.

As seen best in Figure 2, the tread member 20 part of this specification and illustrating a pre-- (Cl. Sii-2.5)

is preferably disposed transversely of the shoe adjacent the ball of the foot. While it is shown to extend across substantially the entire width of the shoe, it will be obvious that the cleat may be substantially narrower, or, in lieu of providing a single long cleat as shown, I may provide a plurality of smaller cleats spaced apart in a row extending transversely of the shoe.

The cleat ZIJ may be formed of any suitable material, such as laminated leather, hard rubber, aluminum, or any other suitable material, and may be attached in any convenient manner. If of penetrable material, such as laminated leather or the like, nails may be used or screws, etc. In the preferred embodiment, I mold the cleat out of hard rubber and adjacent the middle point thereof, the cleat is secured by means of a screw 23 threaded into a female stud or socket 24 inserted in the tap I3 and having its head disposed between said tap and the sole I2. Additional securing devices of the same or of other suitable type may be used. I prefer to provide a pair of spikes I5a. similar tot the spikes I5, these spikes extending through cavities provided in the cleat 20 and having the extremities of their points substantially in the same plane as those of the spikes I5.

When an athlete is running, since he is usually principally on his toes, the spikes I5 will function, mainly. However, the cleat 20 will serve to give him an improved purchase on the ground in starting and also when he cornes to a hurdle or to a jump or to any other point at which a stop and/ or an increased effort must be made. Y

The fact that the spikes I5a extend beyond the cleat 2B, serves to facilitate the penetration of said cleat into the ground, as does also the tapered form of the cleat 20. Obviously, where the cleat 20 is molded of aluminum or like stiff and durable material, the spikes I5a may be made integral with the cleat 20. The sharp spikes I5, since they penetrate the ground very quickly and deeply, will also aid greatly in factilitating ready penetration of the ground by cleat 20.

Various modifications and improvements coming within the spirit of my invention will doubtless suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the speciiic details shown and described herein or uses mentioned, but intend that the scope of my invention shall be determined from the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim as my invention:

1. An athletic shoe having a sole provided with Cil an elongated cleat of substantial depth extending substantially across the sole slightly in advance of the ball line, and a plurality of relatively sharp spikes in advance of said cleat.

2. An athletic shoe having a sole provided with an elongated Wedge shaped cleat of substantial depth extending substantially across the sole slightly in advance of the ball line, and a plurality of relatively sharp spikes in advance of said cleat.

3. An atheletic shoe having a sole provided With an elongated frusto-pyramidal cleat of substantial depth extending substantially across the Sole slightly in advance of the ball line, and a plurality of relatively sharp spikes in advance of said cleat.

4. An atheletic shoe having a sole provided with an elongated frusto-pyramidal cleat of substantial depth extending substantially across the sole slightly in advance of the ball line, a plurality of relatively sharp spikes in advance of said cleat, and a spike projecting from said cleat.

5. An athletic shoe having a sole provided with an elongated frusto-pyramidal cleat of substantial depth extending substantially across the sole slightly in advance of the ball line, and a plurality of relatively sharp spikes in advance of said cleat, said cleat being of approximately the same depth as said spikes.

6. A shoe suitable for running and jumping having a sole provided in the forward part thereof with a plurality of relatively sharp ground penetrating members, and an elongated cleat of substantial depth extending substantially across said sole rearwardly of said members.

ISADORE SHAPIRO. 

